Drinking in America

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We’re not the type of people who need a reason to drink. If we’re breathing, that’s reason enough. But for those who need more, here you go:

 

1. Port Day- The Holiday that pays homage to traditional Portuguese fortified wine. Grab a bottle on your way home and don’t feel guilty when it’s gone before dinner.

 

2. Last Friday in January- Cheers to surviving the first month of 2012. Can’t wait to celebrate 11 more.

 

3. Bacardi’s Birthday- Barcardi turns 150 this year and they’re doing it big. Parties around the world and a limited edition release. Can’t wait to see what happens when they turn the big 1-5-1.

 

4. Oscar Nominations- The nominations have been released. Celebrate your favorite nominees and enjoy a drink while you plan your viewing party.

 

5. Winter X-games- Despite a warm winter, the 2012 X-games are tearing up Aspen. Cheers to talent we’ll never have.

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Bacardi Limited will celebrate the 150th anniversary of its eponymous rum brand this year with a series of events and the release of a $2,000 limited-edition bottle of rare Bacardi rum. (That’s right: $2,000.)

 

Eight former maestros de ron, all Bacardi family members, created Ron Bacardi de Maestros de Ron, Vintage, MMXII, a blend of rums aged in oak barrels for over 20 years. The luxury offering will be released in 500-ml. crystal (that’s right: crystal) decanters presented in leather (that’s right: leather) cases, 400 bottles of which will be available for purchase in selected retail stores and international airports.

 

The company’s anniversary will also include birthday parties thrown around the world, beginning in Germany on January 28th, as well as airport displays and a global cocktail competition.

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Def. — Crowdsourcing is the act of sourcing tasks traditionally performed by specific individuals to a group of people or community (crowd) through an open call.

 

Sam Adams has a new social media marketing ploy up its sleeve — it’s crowdsourcing a new beer.

 

The campaign is called the Crowd Craft Project. All you have to do is go onto its Facebook page and put in your input. You can influence the color, clarity, body, hops and malt. Voting ends February 5th.

 

The new brew will be available at select Austin bars, and at the Sam Adams brewery in Boston. There’s no word yet on whether it will be distributed elsewhere.

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We try to take health claims as they relate to wine with a grain of salt. But we’re pretty interested in following sea buckthorn wine, which is currently available on the Asian market.

 

Sea buckthorn is a hardy plant that grows widely in China, India and Russia. Its beneficial effects are rapidly emerging in North America and include reduced cardiovascular disease risk. It is also a natural source of vitamins and anti-oxidants — it’s vitamin C content is 40 times high than oranges! It also contains a high amount of carotenoids, trace elements, essential amino acids, flavonoids and omega-3 fatty acids.

 

Thus, sea buckthorn has been used in folk medicine for ulcer, burns and digestive problems. New evidence suggests that it may reduce blood cholesterol and glucose levels.

 

With all of this going for it, we almost don’t care how it tastes. Have any of you DIA-ers tasted sea buckthorn wine on an overseas journey? If so, do tell.

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“Keeps your drink cold and your hand warm.” Not many products can make this kind of claim. That’s why we’re nominating the Skuuzi for the Smart-Stupid Award of the month — or year, depending on what our research department turns up.

 

At first you might think it’s pure gimmickry: a mitten knit to accommodate the shape of a bottle. Then you try it. And gimmick becomes genius. Congratulations to the Skuuzi-preneurs who took a chance on this one.

 

You can buy them online for about $29.99, or save a few bucks buying them at Urban Outfitters. They come in assorted colors, but who cares. They are all shades of tan and gray.

 

via

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If you’ve “bone luged,” DIA invites you to write a guest post about this Portland, Oregon-based trend.

 

A bone luge is where you eat the marrow out of an animal bone, thus creating a channel for a bartender to pour the booze of your choosing from one end of the bone into your mouth.

 

We have not done this. It’s fair to say that we will not do this. So if you’re into it, have at it. Tell us how disgusting it really is (details welcome). Tell us how organic (in a Neadrethal kind of way) it is. Tell us if your friends do it. And where you do it.

 

The obvious question is: why? We buy the gothamist’s roll-up, “If there’s one thing we know about Americans, it’s that we love any opportunity for a grotesque display of gluttonous debauchery. And the bone luge has both, giving everyone the chance to act like a cartoon Viking celebrating a savage pillaging.”

 

Your first-person bone luge post awaits. Write us at drinkingamerica@gmail.com.

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In an effort to curb excessive alcohol consumption, the New York City Health Department is proposing a reduction of the city’s alcohol retail outlets, including bars and corner stores, according to a report in the New York Post.

 

It’s all part of an initiative “intended to generate creative ideas to build on our initiatives including smoking cessation, reducing excessive drinking, promoting healthy eating and increasing physical activity,” said New York City Health Department spokesperson John Kelly.

 

Several business owners and trade groups, have spoken out against the idea.

 

Care to chime in? Add a comment.

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We’re not the type of people who need a reason to drink. If we’re breathing, that’s reason enough. But for those who need more, here you go:

 

1. DIA Cocktail Challenge- While you’re experimenting with your home bartending skills this weekend, take a second and write those concoctions down. Your last minute cocktail just might win you $100 to the bar of your choice.

 

2. AFC vs. NFC – After Sunday we’ll be down to the final two. These are some big games so make sure you celebrate with some worthy football beers.

 

3. SOPA & PIPA- That was a close one folks. Thankfully, the anti-piracy acts were put on-hold today. Long live the Internet… and your favorite drinking sites.

 

4. Freebie Fribbles- Although it’s getting a little cold for milkshakes, who can pass up a free Fribble? Get to Friendly’s this weekend and spike that shake.

 

5. Snow- winter is finally coming and we’ve been ready for it. The North East is supposed to get snow this weekend so make sure you stock up on the winter warmers.

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Bring some chat-worthy labels to your Play-Off and Super Bowl parties. SeriousEats.com has some seriously interesting suggestions to elevate the game and enhance food choices (look for a “Football Food” post in the next few days).

 

American Pale Ale and India Pale Ale

These go great with the big, brash flavors of buffalo wings. An IPA will have a bit more sweet malt backbone that can counter the saltiness of the underlying chicken. And, as an added bonus, IPA goes great with blue cheese.

 

Founders Centennial IPA: Big grapefruit-citrus hop aroma and flavor. Boldly bitter but nicely balanced.

 

Bells Two Hearted Ale: An epiphany beer for many. Defined by grapefruit and pine-resin hop character from Centennial hops.

 

Lagunitas New Dogtown Pale Ale: Aggressively hoppy. Bitter and dry with sharp, pine-resin hop flavors and aromas. Like drinking the Christmas tree.

 

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale: The now sometimes overlooked American Pale Ale. Crisp, dry, and moderately bitter. Signature pine and citrus Cascade hop character. Still a classic.

 

German or Bohemian Pilsner

Try these if you prefer your wings on the milder side. A crisp, clean profile and dry finish keep these light and drinkable, so you won’t be weighed down by halftime.

 

Victory Prima Pils: German pilsner style with unusual subtle citrus notes and a lot of pine. Note the peppery/anise hop flavors. Light bready malt.

 

Schell’s Pils: Sharp hop bitterness and flavor with notes of licorice, herbs and pepper.

 

Lagunitas Pils: A solid and delicious Bohemian pilsner from a brewery better known for their hoppy beers. Flavorful, bready-sweet pilsner malt backs up delicate floral hops.

 

Craft-Brewed American Lager

 

Brewfarm Select: From Dave’s BrewFarm in tiny Wilson, Wisconsin. Light and easy to drink. Sweet grainy malt with hints of Munich malt toasty caramel. Light bitterness and spicy German hops.

 

Session Lager: Full Sail Brewing Company’s take on the pre-prohibition American lager. Crisp and clean with light malt sweetness and low bitterness. Light spicy and citrus hop flavors.

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Heard about the launch of Watermelon Sour Schnapps? It’s coming next month. And we are psyched — of course, we love anything that taste like a Jelly Belly.

 

The 15%-abv product will be priced at $9.99 a 750-ml., with 50-ml. and 1-liter sizes also available.

 

Look for taste testing promotions at a packie near you.

 

Watermelon Sour Schnapps joins 39 other Hiram Walker products, including the recently launched Caramel Apple.